Massage apparatus.



N0.79s,527. PATENTED JUNE 27, 1905.

L. KING.

MASSAGE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAR.17, 190s.

Wa'mscs. 1700676207, w %7-1-M m Patented June 27, 1905.

LORRAINE KING, OF KNEBVVORTH, ENGLAND.

MASSAGE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 793,527, dated June 27,1905.

Application filed March 17, 1903. Serial I10. 148,181.

To all, w/mm, it 77111.7 concern.-

Be it known that I, LORRAINE KING, merchant, asubject of the King ofGreat Britain, residing at Bardolfes, Knebworth, in the county of Herts,England, have invented an Y Improved Massage Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in applying massage in thetreatment of human ailments.

In the treatment of maladies or weaknesses by massage it is well knownthat the strengthening or recuperating effect is dependent upon apeculiar motion of the hand, whereby the necessary pressure, kneading,and friction incidental to such treatment are imparted to the body.

The object of the present invention is to render the said effectsobtainable by a convenient form of apparatus, by which the treatment maybe self-applied.

\Vith the aid of the apparatus hereinafter described the whole effect ofmassage is obtainable in a manner at once efficient and easy ofaccomplishment. The apparatus is, moreover, capable of advantageousemployment in the development of the chest and for allaying manydistressing symptoms incidental to faulty breathing and neglect orfailure in the proper observance of the functions pertaining to otherorgans of the human body.

The essential feature of the present invention consists in forming areceptacle of some flexible material which will not act deleteriouslyupon the skin or body and charging the same with shot or other substancein granular form, the charged receptacle being suitably attached to arigid frame or backing, which may be furnished with a handle or otherconvenientmeans for use in manipulating the apparatus.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into effect, I will proceed to describe the same more fully withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is anelevation and partial section of a massage apparatus constructedaccording to my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan thereof, and Fig. 3 is anelevation of the massage apparatus furnished with a projecting grippiecefor use in operating the same.

In constructing the apparatus I form a receptacle or bag a, of someflexible material, preferably chamois-leather, and charge the same withballs or shot I) or other suitable substance in spherical or granularform. The bag so charged is attached by any convenient means to abacking 0, which may be composed of wood or metal of convenient form forhandling, the said backing being provided with a handle (Z. In Figs. 1and 2 the handle (Z is of the strap form and adapted to be grasped bythe hand. The handle may, however, be constructed as shown in Fig. 3,the grip-piece being arranged to project at right angles from thebacking and being furnished at its outer extremity with a body (.Z' ofspher- -ical or other form, which may be weighted in any convenientmanner with a view to facilitating the manipulation of the apparatus andenhancing its effects, or the handle may be adapted for the passage ofthe hand between it and the backing, the grasp in the latter case beingupon the backing direct, as will be readily understood. In the drawingsthe receptacle is shown attached to the periphery of the backing bymeans of pins or nails (0. If desired, a padding, of india-rubber orother yielding material, may be applied to the perimeter of the backing,the object being to prevent contact of the hard material with the bodywhen the apparatus is in use. The backing 0 may be formed with anaperture 6, Fig. 2, for use in charging the bag or receptacle, the saidaperture being closed by a screwplug a, Fig. 1, or other convenientclosing device, such as a pivoted plate.

In using the apparatus I have found the best results to be obtained bycharging the bag or receptacle nearly to its full extent with what iscommonly known as No. 4 shot and furnishing the backing with a rigidhandle, as shown in the accompanying drawings,

capable of being grasped by the hand of the.

user. It will, however, be readily understood that the details ofconstruction may be varied according to circumstances or so as toaccommodate the fancies or requirements of different patients. Forinstance, I do not restrict myself to the employment of No. 4: shot,because shot of other sizes may be used or even bullets. It is, however,essential that the substance employed for charging the receptaclepossess the property of rolling when the apparatus is manipulated. Inthe event of the treatment being required on a part of the body out ofthe reach of the patient for selfapplication it Will be obvious that theappa- IO ratus may be used by an operator for the purpose of affordingthe necessary relief.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. Massage apparatus comprising a recep- 5 tacle composed of thin,pliable fabric or ma- O the granular filling being arranged so as toimpart flexibility to the apparatus, substantially as and for thepurpose hereinbefore described.

2. Massage apparatus comprising a baglike receptacle composed ofchamois-leather, a filling of shot, a backing to which the saidreceptacle is attached and a handle adapted to be grasped by the hand,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In massage apparatus the combination of a bag-like receptacle, agranular filling,a backing having a charging-aperture, means for closingthe said aperture and a handle provided on the said backing,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses, this 1th day of March, 1903.

LORRAINE KING. Witnesses:

T. SELBY VVARDLE, I/VALTER J. SKERTEN.

